My favourite books of 2020

Like many others, I felt like books were my saviour in 2020. They were my companions when I couldn’t spend time with other people.

I joined a number of book clubs throughout 2020, and when they started to clash with the plethora of other online events, and chose books I didn’t want to read, I decided to start my own. I choose books based on those raved about by other people. Sometimes I totally got it (Becoming, The Giver of Stars), and others I didn’t (Hamnet, Girl, Woman, Other, Invisible Women).

One of my book club members described what should earn a five star review – it is the type of book you would stop someone in the street and to tell them they absolutely have to read it. If that isn’t quite your style, particularly in 2020, then it’s the book you may at least gift to a friend or recommend highly.

There are several books I would do that with this year. Some will be of no surprise, but some you may not have heard of. Out of the 60 books I read this year, these are my favourites - you can see the full list here:

For Laughs

I realised that this category was a really easy choice, because I only read 3 books that thought they were funny this year. One wasn’t funny at all. The other was moderately amusing, but this one left me laughing out loud several times for pure quirkiness. The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson came out a few years ago. I started it then and it didn’t grip me straight away, so I moved on. This year I picked it back up having seen a friend on Goodreads reading it. I was able to remember the part of the story where I departed (always a good sign), and it was a really different read to those others I have consumed this year.

For touching my heart

I read several in this category this year, and there was stiff competition in it. The Rules Do Not Apply is raw and honest, just the way I like my books written by female journos. The Giver of Stars was a slow starter, but one I hurried to read. I was totally subsumed into the imagery and the love stories. The overall winner for me though is Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. It’s truly beautiful, and the reader is easily transported. Just what I needed to read this summer. If someone doesn’t like this book; it means that I will never read anything they recommend! A useful strategy if you have a reading list as long as mine!

For development

I wrote Be The Leader You Want To See to be the book of the year for personal development, and I continue to get feedback from people saying it is just that. Emails are coming in now to say they are about to start their re-read by way of prep for 2021. It’s a good plan. I have read my book as a consumer and I think it produces powerful results if you follow it….but I can’t just recommend my own book, now can I?!

The one personal development book I read and loved this year was The Master Plan by Chris Wilson. It is a transformational memoir, and not the type of book I would normally read, but it came highly recommended by a fellow business book awards judge – it won the international category this year. It was a great reminder of focus and commitment, beautifully told in a way that gives the hope we all need this year. Thinking of what you want to achieve as a single master plan is an outlook I really relate to. It takes the pressure off timescales and keeps focus on progress.

Out and Out WINNER

 The out and out winner for me this year though in every single one of the above categories is Untamed by Glennon Doyle. She has a huge following, and I am relatively late to the party. I listened to this on Audible which I would recommend. Her tone and personality shine through. This is the only book that I have bought on audio, kindle and paperback format. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND it! I’m not even going to tell you why. Just go and buy it now.

What will reading look like in 2021?

 I have a hefty reading list ahead of me that I am excited to start this year. We will be doing 2 books per month at my book club, so come and have a look on Goodreads and see if you fancy joining in on the reading joy. It’s very informal – you just need to read the book and turn up with one point you’d like to discuss. Join us here.

 Here is what I am going to read in Q1:

·       Rebecca

·       Wolf Hall

·       Educated

·       Wonder

·       Piranesi

·       Eleven Rings

·       Creativity Inc

·       Such a Fun Age

·       City of Girls

·       The Blind Assassin

Are there any five star books you’ve read that you think I absolutely must add to my list?? Let me know in the comments!

Susie Ramroop Biography

Women in business turn to Susie Ramroop when career and life is not meeting expectations. She expertly stops unhelpful patterns of self-judgement and impostor syndrome and focuses on what matters - progression AND fulfilment.

Susie’s mission is stopping you believing you can’t be what you can’t see. Her book “Be The Leader You Want To See” is the blueprint for unlocking the goldmine of talent you already possess, so you take the lead now.

With heart and humour, Susie brings easy clarity to confidently stepping into the career you were made for. She is a highly sought-after speaker, coaches privately and leads utterly transformational retreats.

Find her at www.susieramroop.com where you can get a signed copy of her book. Connect with her on LinkedIn here: https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/susie-ramroop-mindset-coach/